Chapter 27: Undercover Investigation in Tianjin

  I burst out laughing: "Li Hongzhang's false reports and embezzlement, don't you have a deep understanding of it? Can his words be trusted? Now my ship's speed is only 14.5 knots, while the Japanese warships have reached speeds of 24 and 26 knots. Our warship cannons are all breech-loading, with slow firing rates, whereas the Japanese warship cannons have already been converted to quick-firing guns. The Japanese warships can fire six rounds at once, while our warships can only return one round. Do you think we still have an advantage? Moreover, in recent years, the Japanese have been vigorously building new ships, with five or six ironclad warships being built every year. Doesn't this give them another advantage over us? Our fleet is already at a disadvantage compared to the Japanese fleet, so where is this 'unshakeable' situation he's talking about? Must we wait until we're defeated like in the Battle of the Yellow Sea before they stop boasting?"

  He wiped the sweat from his face and said: "I understand, I'm lucky to have come to ask you today, otherwise relying solely on others' words would have misled me in the great affairs of our Qing dynasty!"

  I was also stunned: "Isn't Dan Weng Lao here today to discuss the matter with the Empress Dowager?"

  "He was also stunned: 'What did the Emperor say to the Empress Dowager? I don't know, nor do I understand, nor do I want to listen, and even less do I want to know about the Emperor's whereabouts! The Emperor ordered me to take charge of the Ministry of Revenue, so I am only responsible for safeguarding the treasury of the Qing dynasty. Other matters are none of my concern!'"

  I secretly exclaimed: "What a good job of keeping the treasury for the great Qing, the loyal and dedicated heart is admirable! Unfortunately, it's for a muddled government that's selling its life! How sad!"

  I saw off Yan Jingming, I instructed Xiaofuzi to pay attention to the matters during the handover, let Zhenbi ask about this matter at home, and myself and Yanner, Feier, Baixue, and Li Xianglin four people disguised as small servants, followed Zhang Zhidong riding horses rushing towards Tianjin.

  Zhang Zhidong was a bit too annoying, letting him be my master, he refused to do anything at first, later I gave him an ultimatum and he reluctantly agreed, but still felt very constrained, occasionally blurting out "your subject" which made me so angry that I kicked him several times. Unexpectedly, these kicks actually kicked some sense into him, and he happily said: "Your Majesty didn't treat his subject as an outsider, how could his subject treat Your Majesty as an outsider?"

  Tianjin, in ancient times was the ocean, during the Warring States period there were scattered residents. The Han and Sui dynasties excavated canals here, gradually becoming an important place. During the Song and Liao periods this was the front line, Jin and Yuan called it Jingu. In the Ming dynasty Haijin town was established, later taking the meaning of Tianzi crossing to commemorate the Ming Chengzu Zhu Di's seizure of power, renamed Tianjin, and built a city with Tianjin Wei. During the Qing period it was the location of the Zhili province government office. Tianjin is an important gateway to the imperial capital Beijing, also the main garrison of the Beiyang army.

  Zhang Zidong had already known that Yaner and Feier were women, and they were my beloved wives. Today, seeing Baixue accompanying them, he also knew she was a woman, but he didn't understand her identity, and at first, he didn't recognize her as Baixue either. It wasn't until Yaner introduced her as Baixue that he suddenly realized and said: "No wonder the principal mentioned murder from the start, I secretly thought the principal's heart was too cruel, I didn't expect a switch! What is Baixue doing now? Such a talented person being buried is really a pity!"

  Fei'er said: "She is now both a bodyguard for the ageless one and the head of Yan'er sister's arsenal, she can't stay idle!"

  We were six people in a row, each with two guns of different lengths. The long guns were wrapped in our luggage and the short ones were tied to our waists. With our super strong martial arts skills, we weren't afraid of any ordinary trouble.

  Six people chatted and laughed as they walked for more than half a day before arriving in Tianjin.

  We were led by Zhang Zhidong to Qingchun Garden on the banks of Haihe River after seven or eight turns. Zhang Zhidong said, "Let's settle down here first, and then we'll go see a few people!"

  We booked two suites, Zhang Zidong was the host, naturally occupying one suite, Li Xianglin lived in the outer room, considered a personal bodyguard. I and three women occupied one suite, Bai Xue lived in the outer room, Yaner, Feier and I naturally moved into the inner room, but towards Bai Xue, I always had some apologetic feelings and loving intentions.

  We put away our things and the six of us set out onto Tianjin's streets with only pistols and wearing casual clothes.

  In recent years, Tianjin has become a commercial port due to the opening of China's doors by foreign troops. Merchants from various countries come and go here, and many foreign goods are transported from here to inland areas, making it relatively prosperous, with crowded streets and hawkers' calls ringing in one's ears.

  Upon arriving at the Tianjin's Mai Street, Zhang Zhidong said: "There are four high-ranking military officers from the General Governor's office waiting for us inside. To avoid any unexpected situation, should Your Majesty retreat first?"

  "This is no good! Suspects are not used, those who are used are not suspected. Let's go, let's discuss this together. Of course, you're the master, I'm the teacher, and they're the bodyguards!"

  As we were talking, we entered a restaurant called He Xing Yuan.

  As soon as we entered the house, a little servant came over and asked: "Is it Lord Zhang, the Governor of Shanxi?"

  I stepped forward and said: "Exactly, have the four masters arrived?"

  "That man said: 'I have been waiting here for a long time, quietly waiting for Lord Zhang's arrival in the second floor's Chrysanthemum Appreciation Room!'"

  Saying so, he led us upstairs.

  Just as they reached the second floor, four men in their mid-30s to 40s, dressed in official attire, rushed out of a room and, upon seeing Zhang Zhidong, clasped their fists and said: "Your Excellency's arrival in Tianjin has caused us immense excitement. We wonder if you might be able to stay for a few more days, allowing us to fully appreciate your wise words?"

  "Everyone may know that I am usually attending to the Emperor, and it is rare for me to come out. Having met a few friends here today, I can only chat with you briefly before returning, so I won't be able to stay for too long!"

  A man with a purplish-red face said: "What a pity! Such a talented and refined person has come to this place, but we are not fortunate enough to have a pleasant conversation with him. What a regret!"

  Zhang Zhidong said: "I'm overpraised. Before I met the Emperor, I dared to speak boldly, but after meeting him, I feel even more isolated and ignorant, how dare I utter reckless words again!"

  Everyone was stunned. A yellow-faced young man stepped forward to the Shang Ju Zhai and said, "A Manchu slave also dares to speak of bravery? Sir, aren't you afraid of his imperial power?"

  "Absolutely not! The current emperor has surpassing talent. He is not only well-versed in the classics and knowledgeable about military strategy, but also empathizes with the people's feelings, cares about the suffering of the common folk, loves and protects his soldiers and officials, has a heart that seeks to eliminate corruption, and has the intention of defending against foreign aggression and glorifying China. He is truly a wise and enlightened ruler who is hard to come by!"

  Entering the house, everyone took their seats in order of seniority and continued the conversation from earlier while drinking tea.

  A young man with a pale face said: "Are you really going to humble yourself and serve the Manchu Tartars?"

  "This statement is wrong. China is a multi-ethnic country, and we cannot consider any ethnic group as outsiders, including the Han people who are also formed by the fusion of countless ethnic groups. In ancient times, China was only in present-day Henan and Shanxi provinces, while other places were inhabited by different ethnic groups. From this perspective, even Confucius from Shandong and Qu Yuan from Chu would be considered outsiders! Later, when China expanded southward, people from Sichuan and Guizhou also became outsiders! Liaodong Manchu has long been our territory, so the Manchu people are naturally Chinese! If we go back to ancient times, even Beijing and Tianjin people were not within the Central Plains for a long time, would they not be considered outsiders too? A great man should have a broad mind, how can he consider his compatriots as enemies and fight them, giving foreigners an opportunity to take advantage of us? We want to join hands to revive our Chinese nation, so that foreign devils will no longer dare to humiliate us. The current emperor is a Manchu, but he wants to take power from the Empress Dowager's mess and use the people's strength to resist foreign invasion, which is also for our country, we naturally want to assist him with all our might. After all, defending the country is the top priority!"

  One remark silenced the four of them, just as Xiao Er began to serve wine and dishes. A dark-faced man said: "Alright, since we're here to entertain Lord Zhang, and we've come to this Chrysanthemum Pavilion, let's compose poems on chrysanthemums!"

  It was only then that I saw the house had countless pots of chrysanthemum flowers arranged on all four sides, although it wasn't the ninth month of autumn, the host had made the flowers bloom out of season, but there was something unique about it! Looking again at those chrysanthemums, they were competing to bloom, with a thousand postures and a hundred charms, dazzling the eye. Moreover, the fragrance was overpowering, refreshing the heart and spleen!

  Zhang Zhidong said: "Good, then let's use the ancient people's poems about chrysanthemums as a drinking game. Starting from me, whoever can't come up with a poem will have to drink a big cup by themselves!"

  Everyone exclaimed: "Good!"

  Zhang Zhidong said: "I chanted Yuan Zhen's 'Chrysanthemum', the autumn is surrounded by a thatched cottage, like a Tao family, and the sun sets gradually along the fence. It's not that I particularly love chrysanthemums among flowers, but after this flower blooms, there are no more flowers."

  Everyone said: "Good! The words have expressed the extraordinary elegance of Ju Hua!" Everyone took a sip.

  It was the turn of the man with a purple face, who said: "I recite Tao Yuanming's Ode to Chrysanthemum, 'Fragrant chrysanthemums bloom in the forest, green pines crown the rocks; With this elegant and beautiful appearance, it is outstanding under the frost.'"

  The crowd said: "Good, you have spoken out the heroic spirit of Ju Hua!" The crowd took another sip.

  That yellow-faced man said: "I chant Zheng Gu's 'Chrysanthemum', the royal son doesn't compare it to wormwood, on the 9th day each branch is close to the horse's mane. Dew"

  The fragrance of autumn fills the pool's banks, its origin is not as enviable as the tall and majestic osmanthus trees.

  Everyone said: "Good, it's a unique style of Chrysanthemum!" And they all took another sip.

  The white-faced gentleman said: "I chanted Fan Zeng's 'Three Quatrains on Chrysanthemums after the Double Ninth Festival' - one of them is: Lonely eastern fence, wet dew and flower fragrance.

  "Formerly, golden light shone on muddy sand. The world's emotions are all about sons and daughters without high rhyme, only looking at the heavy sun for one day of flowers."

  The black-faced man said: "I chanted Fan Zeng's 'Three Quatrains on Chrysanthemums after the Double Ninth Festival' number two, passed by the tall chrysanthemum still fresh, wine and poetry guests suddenly heard. Just like a retired scholar hanging his carriage behind, no influential relatives came to his door."

  The swallow said: "I chant Liu Kezhuang's 'Chrysanthemum', ashamed to be with the gorgeous spring flowers, diligently cultivating and watering, waiting for the west wind. No need to lead the profound Ming here, just take a few clusters by the fence."

  Fei'er said: "I chant Zheng Shi-xiao's 'Cold Chrysanthemum', the flower blooms not in a hundred flowers cluster, standing alone with a rich interest. Rather die embracing fragrance on the branch, how could I be blown down by the north wind!"

  Bai Xue said: "I recite Chen Pei's 'Thin Chrysanthemum for Xiao Shi', Thin chrysanthemum relies on the steps, eaves deep and difficult to hold dew. Don't say the roots are weak, turn your feet and bear the autumn cold."

  "I chant the poem of Huang Chao, 'When autumn arrives on September 8th, my flowers bloom and a hundred flowers wither. The fragrance of chrysanthemums fills Chang'an, and the whole city is dressed in golden armor.'"

  The four men's faces changed color and they became restless.

  That purple-faced man said: "This brother, this poem can't be said again, it's a counter-poem!"